At the point where the Monongahela River and the Allegheny River meet to form the Ohio River rests downtown Pittsburgh, the heartbeat of the city. The terrain, consisting of rivers, steep hills, and a distinct combination of numerous bridges make this a naturally scenic city. The unique design of downtown Pittsburgh offers residents pocket-like neighborhoods that display its architectural heritage and steel city legacy. A variety of dining and entertainment options line the streets below mid to high rise offices and residential towers. No matter what time of the day or night, you can find something to do in this friendly sports-oriented city.

Restaurants

Downtown Pittsburgh is a food lover’s paradise that raises one question: What would you like to eat? Whether you are traveling along Penn Avenue or hanging out in the strip district, you will have a variety of cuisine options to choose from. Whether you are new to the area or were born and raised in Pittsburgh, there is one restaurant every Pittsburgher eats at: the original Primanti Brothers location on 18th Street. This restaurant has been a Pittsburgh legend for 80 years and counting. Offering locals and visitors a warm environment to sit down with friends anytime day or night for a good sandwich and cold beer. You cannot stop in Primanti Brothers without trying the Pitts-burger or roast beef and cheese sandwich. Each grilled sandwich piled high with homemade sweet and sour coleslaw and hot, fresh fries. When it comes to great pizza and a giant variety of craft brews, Proper Brick Oven and tap room is the best choice in town. This diverse wood burning brick oven and tap room caught the attention of residents, business executives and college students with fresh ingredients and well-rounded menu. Proper, conveniently lies on the sidewalk level of the StarLoftsPgh.com in the cultural district of downtown. Whether you are in the mood for a snack before the matinee at Heinz Hall or the Benedum Center, or in the mood for a cocktail after the evening show at the Cabaret, Proper Brick Oven and tap room has you covered. For an afternoon snack, stop in for Proper’s Famous Bacon Candy. At lunch, sink your teeth into a tacchino or portabello sandwich, chicken caprese, all served on a fresh-baked Breadworks sandwich roll with your choice of Proper Chips OR a side of home made giardiniera (spicy pickled vegetable mix in a red wine vinaigrette). If you are visiting for the popular craft beer bar, you will not be disappointed with 30 different craft beer rotated thoughtfully by the owner.

The nightlife downtown is never ending. After a long day at work, locals enjoy a refreshing martini with friends at Proper. For a night of fun, after enjoying an opera or performance at the Benedum Theater, stop over for a great wine at Proper’s wine bar. During sporting events head over to Heinz Field or PNC Park to catch the ball game, or watch the Penguins battle their rivals in Consol Energy Center. Black and gold fans not attending the game enjoy gathering with friends at Proper Brick Oven and Tap Room to cheer on the Steelers. When after hours rolls around, the younger crowd heads over to the after hour clubs on Penn Avenue to keep the party going through the wee hours of the morning.

History

The foundation of Pittsburgh stretches back to the Industrial Era when great minds like Andrew Carnegie and H.J. Heinz took the city in a new direction, transforming the Golden Triangle into the “Steel City”. When the collapse of the steel industry came, the downtown area suffered greatly. However, the city of Pittsburgh bounced back transforming a former railway station into Station Square, a popular destination for shopping and a lively bar scene. Art and history lovers flock to downtown Pittsburgh to visit the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh and the world-renown Andy Warhol Museum right across the Allegheny river from the StarLoftsPgh.com. Taking a stroll through the cultural district, the place you call home, gives art lovers a chance to experience the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performing in Heinz Hall or the latest music playing at the O’Reilly Theater House.

Transportation

Most residents of downtown Pittsburgh walk or rely on various forms of public transportation to get around. Those, who are staying within the limits of the downtown area may ride PAT buses or the T free of charge, and once you enter travel into the uptown section of the city or within the Zone 1 routes, the ride will only cost a few dollars. While you will see taxis driving around the city of Pittsburgh, you must call the cab company to arrange a pickup time. For those looking for a move convenient way to schedule a ride, Uber is available via a smartphone app. Public parking downtown can be rather costly, ranging anywhere from $5 a day to $20 per day. Getting around the city and connecting to the surrounding neighborhoods is quick and easy thanks to the convenient access to Interstates 79 and 279. Residents can also jump onto Interstate 376 and 576 to travel east and west of the city. The StarLoftsPgh.com are right across the street from public bike rental station, and of course right on the bike trail on Penn Ave.

Cost

The cost of living in downtown Pittsburgh is approximately 27 percent higher than other parts of the city. Those looking to move into the central business district should expect to pay around $1,800 per month for a one bedroom apartment. Those, who choose to travel around downtown via car, can expect to pay about 16 percent higher gas prices than the national average. The average price of beer runs around $7 to $11, although happy hour specials often make the price lower. Most people jetison their car because of the proximity to all the action the heart of the Culutural District has to offer at your home, the Star Lofts Pgh.com

Shopping

The sheer amount of shopping opportunities in Downtown Pittsburgh brings shopaholic’s dreams to life. While walking the streets along Wood Street on your way to Market Square, you pass dozens of little shops and retail stores. Local ladies love to flaunt their latest steals from the upscale women’s clothing boutique Boutique la Passerelle. This inviting little shop carries upscale premium women’s clothing with a European flair, and you can’t go wrong with the trendy headbands or scarves to complete the look. When it comes to groceries, residents usually hop on a PAT bus for a short ride over to shop in the Strip District at an array of specialty shops like the Enrico Biscotti Company, Pennsylvania Macaroni, Strip District Meats, Stan’s Market, S&D Polish Deli, Penn Avenue Fish, and many others. The Strip District also features restaurants, coffee shops, retail stores, and other businesses.

Parks

The most well-known park in downtown and the city of Pittsburgh is Point State Park. Point State Park is right at the heart of the Golden Triangle, featuring an extravagant water fountain where the three rivers meet. Locals and residents of the surrounding suburbs frequent this community part to enjoy a scenic stroll on warm summer days or to take part in holiday festivities during the city’s annual Light Up Night. Point State Park hosts a variety of festivals and events all year-round, keeping the locals entertained while drawing in other from the surrounding areas. During the summer months, you cannot miss out on the Three Rivers Regatta for good food, live music, and plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy. Locals look forward the semi-annual beer dinner at Proper Brick Oven and Tap Room, in addition to attending the music festivals that occur at the park each year.

For a tour of the StarLoftsPgh.com please contact Janet at 412-943-7660.

Bicycle commuting is on the rise, especially with Millennials, and one sure way to attract their attention is by offering the best in bicycle parking amenities and bicycle racks.

By Robert Caston

According to the League of American Bicyclists, bicycle commuting has risen 62%. In bike friendly cities that have invested in their bicycle infrastructure and added safer bike lanes, the number of bicycle commuters has risen by an impressive 105%!

There are 62 million Americans who ride a bike today. Bicycling is particularly popular with Millennials, that huge demographic born between 1980 and 2000. In fact, in a surprising trend, that group is now waiting longer to obtain their driver’s licenses. According to AAA, the number of cars also purchased by people 18-34 dropped almost 30%.

How are they getting around instead? Bicycles, trains, buses, Ubers and ZipCars.

Not only are Millennials interested in the benefits of bicycles, but so are municipalities. City administrators are building up their bicycle infrastructure to encourage more bicycle riding and less automobile driving.

Transportation planners are adding more protected bike lanes, bike share programs and bicycle racks. Many have adopted a “road diet” planning strategy that places less emphasis on roads and designates more funds for alternative means of transportations, especially bicycles.

New York City’s Mayor Bill deBlasio spent $100 million on bike lanes and making city streets safer for bicyclists. In the next decade, Seattle plans to spend $1 billion on their bicycle infrastructure. Los Angeles created a “Green Streets” program to add more bike lanes.

To cover their investment in bicycling, most cities now are rewriting their zoning codes and requiring more short-term and long-term bicycle racks for parking. In fact, new or renovated apartment buildings in some cities are now required to add indoor bike rooms.

But rather than consider long-term bike racks for apartment buildings as an extra cost, the great benefit to landlords of adding a bike room is that this space can be a highly-marketable commodity to attract tenants.

For example, the City Tower in Brooklyn showcases their bike room located on the 19th floor so that cyclists can park their bikes in front of spectacular city views.
Best practices for bicycle parking

According to the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals there are two forms of bicycle parking – short-term and long-term.

bicycles in apartments

Short-term bicycle parking is achieved by the installation of bicycle racks in front of retail stores or restaurants. Typically this would consist of u-shaped racks or wave bikes racks. This parking is generally considered to be for a limited time, say 1-4 hours.

Long-term bicycle parking is for tenants or employees who park their bicycles overnight or for several hours. The ideal place for long-term bicycle parking is a secure, indoor bike room.

One of the big challenges that bicycle owners face today is the rising number of thefts. According to the FBI, more than one million bicycles are stolen every year. Thieves have become more adept on cutting through even the best of locks. Combine this with the rising cost of bicycles, especially bicycles with new lightweight carbon frames, and there is a real challenge for building owners to provide a secure means for residents to lock their bikes.

Dragging a bicycle up a flight of stairs to an apartment or on an elevator is not a pleasant experience. Bicycles scratch or dent walls. Dirty and wet bicycles create a hazardous messes on floors.

The best solution is to provide a bike room. Locate these bike rooms on the first floor to provide easy and quick access for bicyclists.

However, apartment space is at a premium. The average bicycle is 6 feet in length. Owners face the challenge of providing adequate parking in a limited space for a large number of bicycles.

There are new types of bicycle racks, such as the Uplift Bike Dock floor rack offered by The Park and Facilities Catalog, that offers high-density parking to maximize square footage.

Another solution is to consider vertical bike racks such as the DoubleUp offered by The Park and Facilities Catalog. For these bike racks, the bicycles are loaded standing up and suspended on hooks. They come available as either wall mount bike racks or freestanding bike racks.

This helps to utilize the floor to ceiling space for bike storage as well.

Best practices for bike room parking is to provide at least a 6-foot minimum space for aisles on the sides of the bikes or down the center.

For vertical, wall-mount bike racks, a floor to ceiling space of 92-inches is recommended. There should be at least a 36-inch aisle space out from the handlebars and a total of 75 inches of space extending from the wall.

To provide the best in security, the APBP recommends that there be three points of locking contact with a bicycle – the frame, front wheel and the bike rack. A hardy U-lock is generally the best type of lock to use. Be sure the cyclist has the ability to pass the lock around those three points of contact.
How to add extra appeal to any bike room or bike storage area

If a landlord wants to really create an appealing bike room or bike storage area, there are now products available that any cyclist would truly appreciate. Adding these amenities creates even better marketing opportunities that will appeal to Millennials and all bike owners.

Here are a few:

Bike Repair Stations – these public bike repair stations come with a variety of handy tools attached to a sturdy metal frame. The tools are connected by a tough airplane-grade wire that allows people to make repairs or adjustments to their bike, but keeps the tools secure for use by others. Some bike repair stands also come with a wheel chock to hold the bike upright.

Public Bicycle Pumps – there’s nothing more frustrating than walking out to your bicycle and finding a flat tire or tires with low air pressure. A landlord would be of great service in this case by providing a public bicycle pump.

Bike Wash Station – as you can imagine, bicycles get dirty from roads, snow and rain. These handy bike stations help remove the grime and dust off bike frames and gears.

Signage – for a busy bike room, add a sign that clearly states the rules. The message can also include tips on how to properly lock a bike, local maps, etc.

Bicycling is booming in America today. Millions of people now prefer getting around on a bicycle. For a small investment, savvy landlords will see this as a big opportunity to add bicycle parking amenities to make their property more attractive to this massive market.

On weekend nights, Market Square fills with music emanating from NOLA on the Square, a bar-restaurant that sits on the block that once housed Harper’s Attic.

And that is music to the ears of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, which plans to launch a new initiative to bring more live music into the heart of the city.

In a press release Tuesday, the PDP highlighted a recent VisitPITTSBURGH survey of tourists and conference attendees that “identified the music and nightlife scene as the most deficient category compared to very strong responses to every other aspect of their experience.”

Three years ago, the PDP explored a music initiative and umbrella marketing campaign called The Downtown Beat, but after talking with restaurant and bar owners it determined that it was a premature given other priorities.

Now, it’s back on the priority list and the PDP’s annual meeting on Wednesday afternoon, at the JLL Center at Tower Two-Sixty, will include a panel discussion on the opportunities and challenges of presenting more live music Downtown.

The panel will feature Allison Harnden, nighttime economy coordinator for the City of Pittsburgh; Janis Burley Wilson, vice president of strategic partnership and community engagement and director of jazz programs at the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust; promoter and Point Park University professor Ed Traversari; Spirit nightclub general manager Justin Strong; music writer Margaret Welsh; and Russell Howard, vice president of special events and development for the PDP.

Registration is closed for the meeting but it will be followed by a live music event at Revel + Roost, 242 Forbes Ave., Downtown, which is open to the public. It runs from 4:30 to 7 p.m. with music by Two Tall Twins, DJ Soy Sos and Beauty Slap.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is seeking $3 million to help fund construction of a four- to six-screen cineplex in Downtown that would show first-run movies. It would be located in the former Bally Total Fitness Club building on Sixth Street.

If you are looking to qualify for an apartment in your new area, money is the big factor here. Make sure that you are earning at least 2.5-3x the total amount of rent you will be paying for the duration of the time you’re planning to live in your apartment. For example, if you’re looking at a monthly rent of $1,500 and you plan to rent for 12 months, you need to provide proof that you will be earning (or already have saved up) at least $45,000 during that time.

Proof of this can be provided in various ways. If you are planning to stay at your current job by the time you sign your lease, you can provide past pay stubs. If you have a brand new job that you have not yet started, your offer letter (which should include your salary) is a perfect form of proof. Additionally, international renters and international student renters will need to provide visas and student visas to qualify for renting an apartment in the United States.

2. I have little ones, and I want to live in a safe neighborhood. How do I ensure that?

Great news: contrary to what people might initially think, there are actually lots of ways to find out what you need to know! If you’re looking for expertise and hard facts about the safety of your neighborhood, the best things to do are 1) call the local police station and/or 2) check websites like crimereports.com. If you want to get a better feel for the area in general, check out neighborhood and city guides, which will help give you a more localized perspective.

3. How can I find out more information about schools when moving to a new area?

Websites and reviews online can be very helpful in determining which school is your best fit – once you’ve narrowed down your top choices, it doesn’t hurt to contact someone at the school district office, or a principal, or perhaps even someone in the PTA. Getting to speak with a person who actually has experience with the school in which you’re interested could prove inordinately helpful to you in deciding where to live and which school to pick. Once you’ve decided which schools/school districts are the best match for you, find out which zipcodes are included in the district and start looking for apartments in those areas!

Experience all that Downtown Pittsburgh living as to offer. With world-class dining at your fingertips, you are able to enjoy the finer things in life without having to venture too far from home. Perfectly located in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, you will find yourself at one of the most sought-after locales in the nation while living at the Star Lofts in Pittsburgh.

Looking for a pick-me-up? Pittsburgh offers some of the best coffee finds in town with notable establishments such as Crazy Mocha, La Prima Espresso, Nicholas Coffee Co., and Starbucks.

In the mood for a refreshing outdoor walk or jog? In just steps, you will find yourself at the riverfront, or even at Point Park, the intersection of the three rivers. What would Starlofts Pittsburgh living be without a plethora of places to shop? Living at Star Loft in Downtown Pittsburgh means that you’re just a few minutes from the strip district, and so much more. And if you’re looking to shop a bit more local, you have many fine shopping options in your own backyard in Market Square! When it’s time for a night in, cooking in your new gourmet kitchen will be a breeze with supplies from nearby grocers such as Giant Eagle, and Pennsylvania Macaroni. The whole strip district is your shopping place, right on the bike lane across from your home.

With so much at your doorstep, it’s easy to imagine living at the Star Lofts in Pittsburgh.

Incredible history, culture, and a comfortable lifestyle are the inspirations you’ll find living at The Starlofts in Pittsburgh. Located in the heart of the lively Cultural District, we have endless possibilities for gourmet eateries, fresh local markets, artisan shopping galleries, and attractions in downtown Pittsburgh.

Situated in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, The Starloft building was originally constructed in 1800’s. Today, this beautiful historic structure has become one of the most sought-after locations for urban residences downtown. Our property features one, two bedroom apartments in Pittsburgh, PA.

If you’re thinking about buying a car, don’t! You can save your money in car payments, by living in downtown Pittsburgh’s exciting theater district. Walk to work in five minutes, and eat in a different restaurant every day for months.

Imagine peeking out of your elegant loft window, and spotting George Takei walking from his dress rehearsal from the Benedum theater next door to dine at the hip new restaurant below your special loft apartment. That’s right, Sulu, George Takei of the Star Trek fame.

George Takei

The Private front stairway to your wonderful urban space saw the impeccable figure skater Jo Jo Starbuck in years past, the former wife of Steeler legendary quarterback Terry Bradshaw. On a beautiful spring day invite your friends to your downtown home, and escort them up your spiral staircase centerpiece opening up to your own private outdoor patio deck, have some nice California Cabernet and imported Italian meats and cheeses.

The cool spring outdoor jazz band playing across the street below you at Katz Plaza provides your background music as you entertain your guests surrounded by the canopy which are tall, elegant skyscrapers in the urban jungle; right in the heart of the Theater District you call home.

If you are theater lover, there is not a more special place for your new home. Right across the street from the stage door at the Benedum theater. Leave your contact information to take a tour of this exciting new loft space. Upon completion of your tour, get a free bottle of California Cabernet for you to take compliments of Janet and Charlie.